In the ensuing years, the SRO program has expanded across the nation and has demonstrated marked improvement in attitudes among youth in schools where an SRO is present. A School Resource Officer is a law enforcement officer who is assigned to the local school campus to counsel students and parents and to present educational programs. The SRO serves as a law enforcement officer, teacher, and counselor.

The goal of SRO programs is to:
Bridge the gap between police and youth
Increase positive attitudes toward law enforcement
Encourage more cooperation between kids and police
Reduce juvenile crime through counseling, education, and demonstrating a personal interest in the students

These goals are met through both reactive and proactive means. Reactive methods include reporting procedures (police reports), arrests, intervention, and response to calls. Proactive methods include prevention through announcements, posters, school crime watch, informants, school clubs, and classroom presentations.

SROs also strive to be positive role models to students and the community by displaying good moral standards, good judgement, consistency and fairness, respect for students, and sincere concern for the school community. SROs maintain a professional appearance, interact positively with students, parents, and school personnel, are visible and accessible to students and parents at school and school functions and activities.